In March, farmers begin to prepare their fields for planting. Water is run into the fields to a depth of only 3 inches. Rice seed is then soaked.The rice seedlings are now ready to begin their four to five-month journey to maturity and grows rapidly, ultimately reaching a height of 3 feet.Before rice harvest can begin, the fields must be drained. Smash bunches of rice plants down on a wooden cart, the manual, traditional way to separate the grains in some countries.